Crosstie handler



Oct. 13, 1925- J. H. BADE ET AL CROSSTIE HANDLER 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 15, 1923 Oct. 13,1925. J. H. BADE U AL CROSSTIB HANDLER Filed June 15, 1923.

3 Shoots-Shoot 2 Oct. 13,1925. 1,555,577

- J. H. BADE ErAL CROSSTIE HANDLER 'Filed M10 15, 1923 3 Sheets-Shani 5 0 22- Carlzwz J z' Ze.

Patented Oct. 13, 1925. v r 1,556 571 UNITED P E T orries, I

JOHN H. TBA'DE AND can-Mon L; KITTLE, or LAWRENCEBURG, INDIANA, nssrenons OF QNE-TH IRD' T-O ERNEST J. STOCKING, F EVANSTON, ILLINOIS.

d I onoss'rm HANDLER. Application filedl'urie 15 1923. Serial No. 645,494.

To all whom it ma concern: r and distributing them according to. sizes into Be it known that we, Jenn H. Bane andi trucksflor dolly cars, Y I N i CAnn roN L. Krrrnn, citizens of theUni-ted M Fig. 2 is a frontelevation of said apr- 55 States, and residents of Lawrenceburg, in para-tus," I v Q I the county of Dearborn and Stateof Fig- 3 is a Side elevation, 1

diana', have nvented an Improvement in 4 is a detail View ofa separable cons Qiosst1e'llandlers of which the tollowingne w n e, c yoi'nnd ma 1s a spec fication. t'rameof the apparatus. 60

The object of the present inventionis -tol In Fig.1 offthe draw1ngs,:thleetrucks or reduce the labor and cost of handling raildolly cars, 1, 2, 3 are shown .standing. on

road cross-ties, timbers and the like in opera track adj acent to pilesof cross-ties.

ations involving distribution or loading or of such piles are indicated at 5 and 6. f

both. The illustrative apparatus is adapted "for 65. For example, the invention may be uticonveying cross-ties from the piles and for lized in such ope-rations as the removal of hid ng h ies, according to assorted sizes, cross-ties from the yard of a creosoting or on any' one of the three trucks. preserving plant, sorting the ties as to size, The main framebf the apparatus, dese and loading the assortedties on trucks or ignated by the numeral 7, may be con- 70 dolly cars for delivery to treating retorts. structed t0 straddle the track and'truoks. M n al k f thi ki d i very heavy It is shownarranged over the middle truck and can only be performed by extraordi- 2, While the truck$ and 3M Shown (ii-S'- narily physically strong men. In other posed ateither'si'de of the apparatus. a, WOI'dS, thework is such as to require the em- ThC' y 'm l lt d PZ H S i b 7 ployment of labor of a special. or semirfictO Wheels 8, S0 th ap r t smay skilled class. Furthermore, on account of be conveniently transported from one part the heavy nature of the work, it cannot of the yard to another. v

' be carried on by hand expeditiously except he' pp a m ybe OPP t by 33111? by the employment of a'considerable nurns gle man, who stands on an operators platso her of men. Hence the ordinary labor- 00st lm i- C l d t h plat rm 7 of handling cross-ties between the yards and iu l'y uppo by th p igh f m ttcatin'g retorts is. a large item in the cost member 0 and: ha ger 11; S O h g" a, of eneral operation of a preserving plant. S r s of l 12 to c e e M31 T m present invention enables the heavy ods of the platform. e5

ivorl: incident to such operations to be per- The apparatus includes a conveyor 13 35 torn-red mechanically, While the remaining which may be conveniently positioned to remanu'a'l work is reduced to a minimum and ceive' cross-ties from a pile. For instance, can be performed by men of ordinary as shown in Fig. 1, the conveyor may ex: strength. Thus operations of the character tend between the adjacent tie piles-5 and 6, indicated can be conducted much more and ties may beskidded or otherwise transeasily and expeditiously and with cOnsiderferred from the pilesronto the conveyor.

ably less expense than by the, ordinary Said conveyor 1s shown inthe formofan method of employing husky laborers for reendless belt runningaround pulleys or rollers moving, transporting, sorting and loading 14and 1 5,-the shafts offllfifllQllIitQd ties. V f 1 in e on a supporterra e IQQ hLQF-NQ 4 The invention will be best understood by The conveyor may he swung bo up re'ferenceto lone practicable formroit apparae or down for" adjusting its recei flagged tus embodying the invention which is shown accorrdance with the height sta e tie piles. in the annexed drawings. p I

In said drawings. frame 16 is pivot lly attached to the .rnain 50 V Fig. 1 is a plan View of the illustrative frame of the apparatiis;.wh i le therece vin apparatus, shown arranged for conveying end of the :conveyor is adgustably supported cross-ties o-J: timbers from piles in the yard by the standard 17' shown provided itlili i For this purpose, the conveyor supporter i I of the piles onto the conveyor, thus lying lengthwise thereon.

At the'receiving end of the conveyor, its supporting frame member 16 is shown constructed with flaring wings 22, providing a trough-like structure into which the ties may be received so as to fall correctly upon the conveyor.

The ties are delivered by the conveyor to presentation means comprising in this instance declined skidways 23, shown arranged at a convenient height above the operators platform to permit the operator to manipulate the ties as they are brought forward by the conveyor. Where, as inthe illustrative structure, the ties are fed lengthwise by the conveyor, the operator standing on the platform 9 may conveniently turn the ties crosswise of the skidways as the ties are delivered thereto. The ties slide down j the. skidways until arrested by stops 24.

For removing or picking up the ties from the skidways, the illustrative apparatus includes carrier means comprising in this instance a pair of endless elevating chains 25. The upper and lower sprocket wheels of said chains are indicated at 26 and 27. Elevating chains are equipped with pairs of short and long dogs 28 and 29, each pair of dogs adapted to receive a tie between them. A tie resting on the skidways 23 will be held by the stops 24 in such position as to permit a pair of short dogs 28 to move upwardly past the tie, while the tie will be picked up bythe ensuing pair of long dogs 29.

The elevating chains will carry the tie upwardly over its upper sprocket wheels 26 and thence downwardly through achute 30 formed in part by the descending runs of the elevating chains and in part by guards 31. Saidguards 31 have curved extensions 32 over the upper ends of the elevating chains, so that the tie is held against displacement on the elevating chains as it is carried from the ascending to the descending stage. 1

As the elevating chains bring the tie over and down through the chute 30, the tie will rest upon a short dog 28, thus supporting the tie and preventing it from dropping upon the subjacent means hereinafter re ferred to.

It will be observed that the tie is presented sidewise to the elevating chains, which pick up and lift the tie and carry it over and down on their descending runs for presentation to means for removing and depositing the tie. The illustrative apparatus includes means comprising selectively-operable instrumentalities whereby the tie may be deposited sidewise in front of the presentation means, for instance into the truck 2, or may be shifted endwise and then deposited sidewise, for instance into either of the trucks 1 or 3. The specific instrumentalities employed for this purpose in the illustrative apparatus will now be described.

Below the chute 30 is a pair of displaceable throwouts 33, consisting of declined arms adapted to remove a tie brought clownward on the descending runs of the elevating chains. down the chute 34 and be deposited into the subjacent truck 2. Said chute 34 is formed by the lower portions 35 of the guards 31', and by declined bars 36 in alignment with the throwouts 33.

The throwouts 33 may occupy a position in the path of a descending tie, as shown in the drawings, or they may be swung out of the way to permit the tie to descend upon a subjacent pair of stationary throwouts 37.

The displaceable throwouts 33 may be under control of the operator standing on the operators platform 9. For this purpose, the throwout arms may, for example, be attached to a rocker shaft 38, provided with a lever 39 within reach of the operator and by which he can rock the shaft to swing the throwout arms 33 downwardly from their supports to a position clear of the descending tie. The lever 39' may be provided with a locking bolt engaging a stationary notched sector 39 to lock the throwouts in desired position.

If the throwouts 33 are displaced, the descending tie will be removed from the ele vating chains by the stationary throwouts 37, and will slide down the chute 40 formed between said throwouts 37 and the bars 36.

A tie removed by the stationary throwouts 37 is to be deposited upon or into either of the trucks 1 or 2. To control the direction in which such tie shall be discharged, there is provided in the illustrative apparatus a roller 41, shown arranged in or proximate to the bottom of the chute 40 and transversely of the discharging tie. Hence a tie arrested by this roller will rest thereon approximately midway of its length, so as to permit the tie to tilt on the roller, with its heavier end downward.

Conveyors 42 and 43 are shown running in opposite directions from the roller 41 to the opposite sides of the apparatus, or, in other words, toward the respective trucks 1. and 3. The roller 41 is arranged at a A tie so removed will slide higher elevation than these conveyors, so that a tie arrested by theroller .Wlll. tilt, or maybe tilted,.so as to beengagedby oneor theotherlofrsaid conveyors 42 andrlS, thereby determining .to .ivhichof .thetrucks '1. or 3 the tie shall be supplied. f

The operator of. .the apparatus, stationed on the operators platform 9, may readily control :the direction .of tilting by shifting the tie on theskids 28v so'lthat when picked up by the elevating chains itjWill project more or iless to therightor left. Thus the tie Willbe .depositedfupon the .roller 41'With itscenter oztgravity to a desired side of the roller, causing-thetieto tilt in. the direction.

provided across its face with a deflector '50.

Ties deposited upon the respective conveyors 42 and 43 =willibe delivered to the respective supports, which Will cause them to discharge into or upon the subjacent trucksl and 3L The .mode of operation of the illustrative apparatus, as thus far described. may be briefly summarized as follows:

Cross-ties are brought forvvard from the stool; piles on the conveyor 13, 'in'this' instance the ties being laid lengthwise on the conveyor, one tiebehind another. As' a tie is delivered from the conveyor, the operator standing on the platform 9 manually turns the tie to lie across the skidways 23. The tie slides down th e 'skidways until arrested by the stopsQ-l. From this position the tie is piclzed up by a pair of long dogs 29.1on the ascending runs of the elevating chains '25. As the tie is thus pi ked up, the operator may shove it against the elevating chains, or it may be so shoved by a succeeding tie onthe skids. The elevating chains icarry'the tie over and around their upper sprocket Wheels 26 to the descending s de of the chains, so that the tie lodges upon the adjacent pair of short dogs 28 If the operator-desires to deposit the tie on the middle. truck 2, he leaves the movable throwouts 33 in operative position, or throws them into such position if not already in place; said throwouts being controlled in this instance by the lever 39. In such event, the tie Will be removed from the short supporting dogs 28 on the descending runs of the chains,'and Will'slidedoW-n the chute 34 and dropupon or into ,theti'uck 2. If, however, the operator desires to deliver the tie to either of theother .trnelzsp-l or 3, he swings the throwouts 33 out of the ay, or leaves them out .ofthe ay if already in displaced position-" In that .event,. the tie carried'bythe descending runs of the chains Will pass the chute Standwill be removed from thechains by the stationary throWout's 37. The tie to be suppliedto' either of trucks llor=3 may have been previously shijttedendwise by the operator, 7 either While on the skidways. or while carried by the ascending runs" of the l elevating chains, so as to cause its. center of gravity to be'to the right or leftof the roller 41. Thus Whenremoved'by the stationarythrowouts 3,7, thewtie will lodge uponIand across the roller 41 with its'gheavier end towardgth'etruckito which .it is intended to Ebe supplied. Th'e tie will accordingly tilt and :lodge its heavier end upon thev conveyor 4201' 43, ;asthe case may be, and be drawn by such; conveyor .off {the roller and discharged to the inclined board or support be-j vond the conveyor-,and dropped on or into' the truck beneath, i. e. the truck 1 (or as the case may be.

Thus the operator may inspectthe ties, I as they are delivered one after another by the conveyor '13 and by'a slight shiifting :oriadjustment. of the ties on their supporting means, together with proper control of :the throwouts 33 through the convenient lever 39, he may c'ausethemto be distributed or loaded into selected carriers :of a number of carriers in accordance with a desired sorting as to size, grade or othe-nvvise. For instance, he may cause ties of-onesize to be delivered to the truck 1, and ties of Tlesssi-ze tobedeliveredto the trucks 2 and 8,.or certain sizes to each oftheftruc'ks;

Aside from the convenience for assorting anddistribujt'ing according to assortment, the apparatusis valuable for loading pI1-I' poses .even though noassorting were desired, since it relieves themen of the heavy .Work oftransporting and lifting the ties ontotrucks. 'It reduces the'manual labor incident to operations of the character here'- inbefore indicated to that of dislodging individualties from piles and tumbling them onto the conveyor 13, and of shifting the ties on their supporting skidvvays for pres- I The machinery of the apparatus may beoperated by any appropr ate mechanism, such, for instance, as that illustrated in the drawings, which will now be-deseribed.

Suitably mounted in the main frame of theappafr'atus is a 'motor 51 which drives the main. drive-shah 5.2, which inthis instance is the shaft of the lower sprocket wheels 27 of the elevating chains 25. Thus the chains 25 are driven by said shaft 52 from the motor 51.

The conveyor 13 is driven through bevel gears 53 and 54 from an inclined shaft 55. Said inclined shaft 55 is driven by bevel gearing 56 from vertical shaft 57, which in turn is driven from the main shaft 52 through gearing 5 The conveyors 42 and 43 are driven from vertically disposed though slightly inclined shaft 59, which in turn is driven from the main shaft through bevel gearing 60. The upper end of said shaft 59 is connected through bevel gears 61 with the pulley shaft 62 of the conveyor 42; while said shaft 62 is connected by intermeshing' gears 63 with the corresponding pulley shaft 64 of the other conveyor 43.

As before stated, the apparatus may be wheeled about the yard for utilization at different points. To facilitate convenient transportation, it is desirable to provide for detachment of the conveyor 13. This is provided for by means such as shown in Fig. 4, where the shaft 65 at the delivery end of the conveyor 13 is shown mounted in a pair of plate-like members 66 detachably connected to the main frame member 67 of the apparatus. For this purpose the members 66 are shown slotted to receive studs 68 projecting from the frame member. Said memhere 66 may be secured against endwise displacement on saidstuds by bolts or pins 69. Upon withdrawing said bolts or pins 69, the conveyor 13 together with its supporting frame member may be disconnected.

Thus the apparatus may be conveniently disassembled for the purpose of moving it from one part of a storage yard to another, and as conveniently reassembled in position for handling ties and the like.

Obviously the present invention is not limited to the specific details of construction and arrangement of the illustrative apparatus, since the same may be variously modified in accordance with various requirements and different purposes for which such apparatus may be employed. Moreover it is not essential that all of the features of the invention be used conjointly, since they may be advantageously used in various different combinations and subcombinations.

Having described an illustrative embodiment of our invention, we claim:

1. An apparatus of the class described comprising, in combination, means for receiving cross-ties or the like and delivering themsuccessively to position to be picked up; and loading mechanism including means for picking up the successively presented ties, and a plurality of selectively operable means to which said ties are delivered by the picking-up means, one of said last named means adapted for depositing ties sidewise; and means associated with other of said last named means for delivering ties endwise.

2. An apparatus of the class described comprising, in combination, loading mechanism constructed and arranged for picking up successively presented cross-ties or the like and depositing them, including means for controlling the depositing of the ties at different points of deposit, according to a desired sorting of the ties; and means including a conveyor for receiving ties from a source of supply and feeding them lengthwise, and means for receiving the ties from said conveyor and delivering them crosswise for presentation to the picking up means of the loading mechanism.

3. An apparatus of the class described comprising, in combination, mechanism for receiving successively presented cross-ties or the like and depositing them in carriers; declined skidways for presenting the ties; and a conveyor for bringing ties to said skidway; said conveyor being pivotally connected with the framework of said mechanism and adapted to be swung bodily for elevating or lowering its receiving end in accordance with the height of a pile from which the ties are supplied to said conveyor; and means for adjustably supporting the receiving end of the conveyor at a desired elevation.

4. An apparatus of the class described comprising, in combination, means for delivering cross-ties or the like successively to positions to be picked up; means for picking up the successively presented ties; means for removing the ties from the picking up means; a plurality of conveyors for delivering ties to different points of deposit; and means cooperating with the removing means for delivering a tie to a conveyor.

5. An apparatus of the class described comprising, in combination, means for delivering cross-ties or the like successively to position to be picked up; means for picking up, lifting and then lowering the presented ties; a plurality of means for removing the ties while being lowered by the said means which picks up, lifts and lowers the ties; means for controlling the said plurality of removing means, whereby a tie may be removed by a selected means; and a plurality of means for delivering to different locations ties removed by the respective removing means.

6. An apparatus of the class described comprising, in combination, means for delivering cross ties or the like successively to position to be picked up; means for picking up, lifting and then lowering the successively presented ties; and throwouts arranged one above another for removing the ties while being lowered, with associated means for discharging the ties, a superposed throwout means being displaceable to permit descent YOI'M a tie'to a subja'ceiit IthrO'WQLlF means conveyors for delivering ties to different points; and means cooperating with on'e'of said throwouts' for. discharging ties upon sai dpconve o'r's;

for discharging the ties; a sup)erposed throwout means being displaceable' to: pern'iit descent' of a tie to' a subjacent'- th rowoutflm'eans; means adapted to arrest atie removed by a throwoutfmearis'; and" conveyors running I in opposlte directions from said-last named means,on which the tie'will tiltso as to be engaged'by one'orthe othe' .ing pairs of long and short-dogs; and means of said conveyors.

)8, In apparatus of, thejcla'ss described,

combination of endless elevatingchains, havfor holding cross tie-or the like in such relation to the elevating chains as to be passed by. jasce'nfdingjslfort' dogs but tov be picked up "by'the ensuing "long dogs; said elevating chains adapted to carry the tie to their descending sides, and to support the tie by the short dogs on their descending runs.

9. In apparatus of the class described, the combination of endless elevating chains, having pairs of long and short dogs; and means for holding a cross tie or the like in such relation to the elevating chains as to be passed by an ascending short dog but to be picked up by the ensuing long dogs; said elevating chains adapted to carry the tie to their descending sides, and to support the tie by the short dogs on their descending runs and means for removing the tie from the descending runs of the elevating chains.

10. In apparatus of the class described, the combination with endless elevating chains having a pair of dogs; means for lodging a tie between said dogs; and vertical guards opposite the descending runs of said chains cooperating therewith to provide a chute; said guardshaving curved extensions over the upper ends of the elevating chains providing an extension of said chute; said guards and curved extensions thereof cooperating with said chains to prevent dislodgment of the tie as it is turned over and carried down the descending runs of the chains.

11. In apparatus of the class described, the combination of elevating chains having tie-engaging dogs; and means cooperable with said chains to provide a chute at the descending side of said chains and a plu the co'mb'ination of dec'lined skidwayshav-Y ties and delivering them to said i skidways' elevating chains having dogs for removing tiesironi said sk1dwa'ys;-and meanscompr singa chute associated with'the' descendi g side of said chains and oil-set ch and throwoutsfor removing ties from'the descending runs of the elevating chains;

13. In apparatus of the" class described, the combination of declined skidways to 1 re ce'ive ties placed cross wi'sefof the skidways tie arresting stops on 'the" skidways; and

elevating chainshavinglong and shortdogs;

saidf 'stops located to holda'tie out 'of the path of the" ascending short dogs and in positio fixto be picked up by the long dogs.

' 141111 apparatus of th'ejclass described,

the combination of means for'lowerin'g ties;

a plurality of dist zharg'e chutes one" above another, into eithero'f which a'tiemay be discharged displaceable inclined means for removing 'a ti e from the lowering means into the upper chute, said means when in operative position forming a part of the inclined bottom of said chute; and subjacent inclined means for removing a tie from the lowering means into the lower chute.

15. In apparatus of the class described, the combination with tie discharging means; aroller; conveyors extending in o posite directions from said roller; said rol er having its upper surface above the level of the conveyors; the discharging means bein arranged to deliver a tie crosswise of sai roll er, so that the tie will tilt thereon and rest at one end upon one of the conveyors; and said conveyors arranged to carry the ties endwise from the position to which they are delivered on said roller.

16. In apparatus of the class described, the combination of conveyors running in Opposite directions and adapted to convey ties arranged lengthwise thereon; means for causing discharge of a tie upon one or the other of said conveyors; and means at the delivery ends of said conveyors for eifecting desired depositing of the ties.

17. An apparatus of the class described comprising, in combination, an operators platform; conveying means arranged to re-- ceive cross-tles or the like and dellver them adjacent to said platform; inclined skidways to receive the ties successively delivered by said conveying means, and on which the operator, while stationed on said platform, may arrange the ties for presentation to elevating means; and loading mechanism including elevating means for picking up ties successively positioned on said skidways and for lowering them, and means for re moving and depositing the ties.

18. An apparatus of the class described comprising, in combination, means for bold ing a tie for presentation to carrying means;

a carrier adapted to take up ties from said first named means; selecting means for removing ties from said carrier; and means for distributively depositing ties removed by said selecting means.

19. An apparatus of the class described comprising, in combination, a conveyor on which cross-tiesor the like are laid endwise, one behind another; means to which said ties are delivered and on which the ties may conveniently be turned to crosswise position; and mechanism constructed and ar ranged for picking up the ties from said last named means and depositing'the ties.

20. In apparatus of'the class described, the combination with mechanism for picking up and depositing ties, of means for delivering ties thereto comprising a conveyor adapted to be positioned between tie piles and having a support constructed with a trough-like formation at its receiving end to facilitate depositingof ties from the piles onto theconveyor.

22. An apparatus of the class described comprising, in combination, mechanism adapted to receive a cross-tie or timber presented sidewise; and means for holding a tie for sidewise presentation to said mechanism, said mechanism comprising means for elevating the tie and means for moving the tie endwise and then depositing it sidewise,

23. An apparatus of the class described comprising in combination, mechanism adapted to receive a crosstie or timber presented sidewise; and means for holding a tie for sidewise presentation to said mechanism; said mechanism comprising means for picking up the tie and a plurality of selectively-operable means for depositing the tie. In testimony whereof we have signed our names to this specification.

JOHN H. BADE. CARLTON L. KITTLE. 

